The southeast region is back in the yellow phase of public health restrictions.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Jennifer Russell announced on Sunday afternoon that after a risk assessment, her department supports a provincial cabinet decision to bring Zone 1, the southeast, and Zone 3, the Fredericton region, back into the yellow phase.
This puts an end to the single household bubble rule that has been in effect under orange phase restrictions.
Under yellow, informal indoor gatherings of up to 20 people are permitted. But public health rules do say that close contacts should be limited to a consistent list of family and friends.
Masks are no longer mandatory outside, but remain required in all indoor public spaces, and when 2 metres of distance is not possible, such as at a drive thru window.
Details of the rules are on the New Brunswick government website here.
“I want to be very very clear,” said Russell on Sunday. “The danger of further COVID-19 infections has not gone away. We have not reduced the risk to zero, nor can we.”
Russell said there are still upwards of 300 people self-isolating in zones 1 and 3, as a result of contact tracing. That means more cases could be reported in the coming days.
At Sunday’s conference, CBC reporter Alexandre Silberman asked Premier Higgs about the chances of reinstating the Atlantic Bubble.
The premier gave hints of hope, but was overall cautious in his reply.
“A lot will depend on where we are in all our zones getting back to yellow,” said Higgs. “And the same thing with what’s happening in Nova Scotia.”
Higgs said that having students who are returning home for winter break self-isolate for two weeks continues to be important. “We need to get that kind of working well, before we can simply go back to the Bubble.”
Higgs said that both he and Dr. Russell would be, “speaking with their counterparts in each of the Atlantic provinces, and collectively, we’ll decide if it’s feasible or not.”
Higgs said the winter holidays are the last significant event before a vaccine is distributed. “We can’t lose sight of getting through this safely and not having an outbreak, said Higgs, “because the vaccine is coming in the new year. So we’ll have to be very cognizant or aware of of that, in ensuring we don’t open up in a way that would increase the chances of an unexpected outbreak.”
FOUR NEW CASES IN NB
On Sunday, Russell announced four new cases of COVID-19 in the province. One new case is in the southeast region, in a person under 19. Two cases are in Saint John, and one is in the Edmundston region.
A remarkably high number of people (35) were reported recovered over the weekend, leaving the total active cases in the province at 82, with 16 of those cases in the southeast region.
According to the province’s COVID-19 dashboard, 39 cases remain under investigation by public health.
The other Atlantic provinces all reported four new cases on Sunday. In Nova Scotia, the relatively low case case count was good news, as stricter public health rules continue in the province’s central zone, which includes Halifax.
Over in PEI, the four new cases are part of an outbreak that has prompted a new set of public health restrictions on the island, including a call for all islanders to remain home and avoid social gatherings.